Over the next few months I am going to update my gear from the 80's and I am going light. I spent a good part of the day comparing tents for two but 4 pounds or under. Altrec has great deals on 3 tents but only for a couple more days until January 7, 2008. I am ordering the Sierra Designs Lightning today. The cost is $170. Here is its description:

A proven pick among fair-weather backpackers and climbers, the award-winning Sierra Designs Lightning Tent offers some of the best crossflow ventilation available for two-person tents. This is a lightweight and remarkably stable tent supported by a pair of DAC Featherlite NSL poles, a stronger and lighter support design that features the highest strength-to-weight ratio among similarly sized aluminum tent poles. DAC Featherlite NSL poles feature locking pole tips to accommodate pole stress, so there's less of a chance that you'll be patching things up on the trail. Roomy gear pockets on the inside of the Lightning make it easy for two adults to separate their gear. If you head out during the hottest months of the year or prefer going minimalist in the desert, the Sierra Designs Lightning Tent can be a breezy shelter even when it swelters.

This 2004 Backpacker Magazine Editor's Choice Award winner is freestanding and built for two.

Another option that I considered, mostly because of the price was the Sierra Designs Sirius. Can you really beat a $100. Here are its features:Sierra Designs: Sirius Tent - While the Sirius might be classified as a three-season tent, the dual doors and big mesh walls make it easier to cool and vent than other alpine three-season climbing tents. It's a great design for camping and climbing in moderate weather conditions, even if the wind kicks up. The Sirius features Sierra Designs' Quick Pitch Swivel Hub, a small metal swivel up top that locks the tent poles in place, adding as much as 60% more structural support than conventional "crossover" tent pole configurations. The Swivel Hub also simplifies pitching, so you're less likely to have your poles crossed (in a bad way)--especially if you're setting up camp in the dark. It features a two-door architecture inspired by CAD design that offers excellent cross ventilation. Besides having their own door, each of the two adult occupants also enjoy a separate vestibule for hiking boots and climbing gear. Gear pockets along the inside of the 31-square-foot interior space make it easier to sort out field guides, GPS components and other important stuff. One thing to keep in mind is that the Sirius series does feature an optional footprint (sold separately) for floor protection, but it cannot be pitched in a fly-only, fastpacking configuration. Considering that the packed weight is around four and a half pounds, most minimalists probably won't mind. If you're looking for a similar design with more vestibule space and plenty of accessories, check out the Sierra Designs Electron tent with included footprint, portable attic--and even a coffee sling!

Last week there were several stories in the papers and on television about the danger of bisphenol leaching from plastic drinking bottles. I was busy and did not really pay much attention but with the cold weather this weekend I thought I would use the Google and see what I could find out. Learned a lot. Seems I need to quit listening to rumors. I was always told that you should not use pop bottles for water because they are difficult to clean and bacteria in the bottles could present a health risk. The alternative, Nalgene and other hard plastic bottles. Little risk of bacteria because they are easier to clean but there is a lot of concern about bisphenol leaching from the plastic and getting in the water. According to a 2005 article from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy:

Of 115 published animal studies, 81 percent found signiﬁcant effects from even low-level exposure to BPA. While none of the 11 industry-funded studies found signiﬁcant effects, over 90 percent of government-funded studies did so.

Ever wonder how industry studies find that there is no issue but the government, 9 out of 10 times discovers the presence of bisphenol.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy included a simple chart to help assess the risk that plastics present when used to store food and water.

Seems that most soft drink bottles are #1 plastic which is safer. If you choose to continue using bottles manufactured with #7 plastic many articles suggest that you do not warm or freeze liquids in the bottles and consider not using scratched bottles because the scratches harbor bacteria and may speed the transfer of bisphenol.

I am going to go out and buy a stainless steel bottle and say goodbye to Nalgene.

Last week Google announced a new feature to its very popular maps. Billed as an attempt to highlight the beauty of an area, Google maps are intended to "focus on physical features such as mountains, valleys, and vegetation." Google states that the maps contain labels for even very small mountains and trails and are enhanced with subtle shading that can often give a better sense of elevation changes than a satellite image alone. Below is a map that I started building of some of the hiking destinations around Calgary. Hit the terrain button to use the new feature

I spent the weekend hiking in Elbow Valley. Started with Powderface Ridge on Saturday and then hiked the Elbow Valley Trail/Riverview Loop on Monday. Both days were incredibly windy. The storm really moved in on us on Saturday. Wind speeds in Kananaskis (Nakiska) were reported on both days gusting in excess of 70 kilometers. Sure felt like they were hitting that speed in the Elbow Valley. The wind on Saturday near Powderface Ridge was loud enough to drown out the rally drivers that were driving on the gravel at the end of highway 66 near Elbow Falls. Google Alerts found me some great shots of the cars on Biz. After being pelted on the hill by snow I think I should have watched the cars.

On Monday, I thought the trees were going to come down around me. I am not sure if the damage is from this weekend but there are a lot of trees down on the ridge on the Elbow Valley Trail. It is obvious that they have fallen very recently. There are a lot of sections like the one below.

I am always amazed that these trees fall down in such large numbers until you see the size of the root ball.

One of the features of this site is the ability for users to obtain information on trail conditions. We are at that time of the year again when conditions can change rapidly from one week to another and from area to area. Rain, ice, fallen trees can make trails less enjoyable or even unsafe. When you hike, please go to the forum, add the trail if necessary by posting a new forum topic,and pass onto others the trails condition. By passing on the information it increases the chance that other hikers will find an enjoyable hike.